Book: The Lost Letters of Ireland
Author: Susanne O'Leary
Pub Day: October 20th 2022
About the Book:
A totally captivating story about long-lost family secrets and new beginnings, that will whisk you away to the village of Sandy Cove on the gorgeous Irish coast.
Heartbroken and feeling lost after the end of her last relationship, Edwina is looking for a fresh start. And when she hears that a coastguard cottage in the tiny village of Sandy Cove is for sale, she knows it could be her chance. She remembers the village from her childhood with its beautiful sandy white beaches, and wonders if using her life savings to buy the cottage might give her a new beginning in the Irish town beside the sea.
Not long after she arrives, Edwina discovers a message in a bottle during one of her walks along the coast. Written twenty years ago and washed ashore at Wild Rose Bay, it tells the story of a desperate young man, driven to despair after a terrible accident that left him separated from his true love. Touched by his heartbreaking letter, and haunted by its contents, Edwina resolves to find the person who wrote it.
As she begins her search, Edwina meets Shane O’Flaherty, a charming local doctor with green eyes, with whom she feels an instant connection. As the pair walk the cobbled streets of the village together, Edwina’s feelings grow stronger, and she begins to wonder whether Sandy Cove might be the place she can finally call home…
But when she uncovers the identity of the person who wrote the letter all those years ago, everything Edwina thought she knew about Shane changes in an instant. Has she unearthed a secret that should never have come to light? And will it force her to leave the place where she thought she had finally found happiness?
Fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Mary Alice Monroe and Debbie Macomber will fall in love with this gripping, heart-warming and utterly charming Irish romance.
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Lost Letters Of Ireland' by Susanne O'Leary.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Susanne O'Leary , Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 20th October 2022.
This is the fifth book I have read by this author. It is also the fifth book in the 'Starlight Cottages' series but can be read as a standalone. I have previously read 'The Lost Girls Of Ireland' which is the first book in the 'Starlight Cottages' series and seventh in the 'Sandy Cove' series, 'The Lost Secret Of Ireland' which is the second book in the 'Starlight Cottages' series and eighth book in the 'Sandy Cove' series, 'The Lost Promise Of Ireland' which is the ninth book in the 'Sandy Cove' series and the third book in the 'Starlight Cottages' series and 'The Lost House Of Ireland' which is the fourth book in the 'Starlight Cottages' series and all can also be read as a standalone and which I highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Mary Alice Monroe and Debbie Macomber will fall in love with this gripping, heart-warming and utterly charming Irish romance.' I am a huge fan of Debbie Macomber so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Susanne O'Leary and if this is half as good as 'The Lost Girls Of Ireland', 'The Lost Promise Of Ireland', 'The Lost Secret Of Ireland' and 'The Lost House Of Ireland' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 26 chapters and an epilogue The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Ireland 🇮🇪 UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. The fact that this book is based in Ireland is even better as I have been on holiday in Ireland many times so may even recognise some places Emma has set the book around.
This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist is Edwina. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
OMG! OMG!! I cannot remember the last time I was so gutted to come to the end of a book!! Well done Susanne you have done it again!!!! I absolutely fell in love and it genuinely felt like I was packing my bags and being whisked away from my Irish holiday when I read the last page. Absolutely gorgeous!!!
The book is so well written with its stunning and vivid descriptions that I genuinely felt that I was standing with Edwina throughout feeling the Irish breeze in my hair and smelling the ocean. The synopsis and cover suited the storyline perfectly.
Although this book is the fifth in a series it can be read as a standalone with no problems. In fact I never came across anything in the book that would make me think it was part of a series. The storyline was realistic and just beautiful. It starts off in such a sad place and from the rain a rainbow was born. I loved getting to know everyone on Sandy Cove and Starlight Cottages and enjoyed the atmosphere and my gorgeous surroundings. It genuinely felt like I was on holidays and after not having one for so long this was definitely the closest thing.
The storyline was filled with romance, stunning settings, love, secrets, friendship, community and family. It made me feel all bubbly inside and it had an air of mystery trying to work out what it was that a certain person was up to. There was plenty of laughter, hope, love and some tension and sadness mixed in. One of the things I loved about this book is that there are two main storylines (Edwina and the cottage and the message in the bottle) which Susanne manages to wrap and intertwine together perfectly leaving me flipping the pages and being unable to put it down. I have got to say that the cover for this book is one of the most gorgeous I have ever seen and along with this stunning storyline the cover makes me want to jump in, walk into the cottage and hide out for a week or two! This book has absolutely everything you want in an Irish getaway. I loved the ending which is absolutely perfect and gives me yet another relationship to look forward to watching develop in your next book 🥂
I always love it when I see a new book by Susanne as she is one of those authors who writes stunning books I know I am going to love!!!
The characters were all solid, realistic and I loved that they all had their own unique personalities. I wasn't only completely invested in Edwina but also Shane, Daniel, Max, Pamela and watching all the different relationships between each other develop and change. Each of the relationships between the characters worked perfectly in sync with the storyline. I absolutely adore Susanne's 'Starlight Cottages' (as well as her 'Sandy Cove') seruea'is that I get to meet not only new characters but familiar faces that I missed "seeing" on between books. Susanne portrays Irish Country life perfectly and it was exactly the same when I went on holidays for a fortnight many years ago, the close knit community where everyone knew each other and was so helpful.
I absolutely love each and every visit Susanne takes me on to Sandy Cove where every time it feels like I'm meeting up with old friends again while knowing I will make new ones.
Susanne I fell in love with yet another of your heart warming, page turning and stunning books which took my heart away and left me gutted when my holiday ended. This is exactly why your on my favourite author list!! I have already added all your books on my wish lists and I cannot wait for my next Irish adventure!!! Please get these put on the big screen!! Here is to your next gorgeous success 🥂
Overall an absolutely stunning, heart warming romance that will have you heading off to Ireland in the blink of an eye.
Genres covered in this novel include Contemporary Fiction, Romance Novel, Women's Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Women's Contemporary Fiction and Holiday Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Mary Alice Monroe, Debbie Macomber, Sheila O’Flanagan , Nicholas Sparks and just anyone and everyone whether you are looking to get away or for romance this is the book for you!!!
256 pages.
This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle and £7.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
@SusanneOLeary @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
AUTHOR BIO
Susanne O'Leary is the bestselling author of more than twenty novels, mainly in the romantic fiction genre. She has also written three crime novels and two in the historical fiction genre. She has been the wife of a diplomat (still is), a fitness teacher and a translator. She now writes full-time from either of two locations, a ramshackle house in County Tipperary, Ireland or a little cottage overlooking the Atlantic in Dingle, County Kerry. When she is not scaling the mountains of said counties, or keeping fit in the local gym, she keeps writing, producing a book every six months.
Visit Susanne at her website, http://www.susanne-oleary.co.uk
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